Hello writers, readers, educators, parents, illustrators, and picture book lovers. You know how people make up cute names for their Substack readers, like a tribe name? I feel like I need one of those. A collective term for Thirty-two Pages subscribers. Do you mind if I address you as Pagers? Hello, Pagers! Or, Thirty-twos? Hello, Thirty-twos! I’m not sure. What about a character from one of my books? Hello, Fig Wasps! (Well, it’s nicer than Spider Wasps.) Hello, my little Mud Daubers! Okay, now I’m being silly. Maybe I should have thought about this when I named my Substack instead of just jumping in. If I’d called my Substack Story Love, for example, then I could say, Hello, Lovers! Or perhaps, Hello Story Lovers! Maybe that works anyway? Or If I’d called my Substack Book Dreams, I could say, Hello Dreamers! But that could be misconstrued. What do you think? Anything in particular you like?
Well, hello anyway. Thanks for being here.
In March, I asked readers about what they’d like to see on my Substack and Carolyn posted this, “I find writing the cover letter to different publishers the most difficult job of all! Some hints and tips about this would be useful to me.” So that’s what’s coming up today. But first
Other News
Danny Snell and I have been sharing a look inside our new book One Little Duck on our socials, as well as the cover. Isn’t it beautiful?
I’ve written before about how adding a new cover to my website is one of my favourite things. I’ve also written about how my process from manuscript to publication was different from usual for One Little Duck. You can read about that here. Look at this delightful illustration.
One Little Duck will be published by HarperCollins in July. Adelaide readers, we’ll be holding a School Holiday Storytime Launch at the Unley Town Hall on July 18. It’s free and all are welcome, but you’ll need a ticket so keep an eye on our socials for details.
And more news, another new book out in the world. Welcome, Baby Lou.
This little cutie with very sweet illustrations by Karen Blair is published by Little Book Press. It also had a different path to publication which I’ve also written about here. It’s now on its way to lots of lucky little newborns through the Raising Literacy Australia Book Gifting Program.
You’ve probably noticed that Substack Notes are the new thing. It seems every writer is enthusiastically trying them out, except me. All the talk of Notes being ‘the new Twitter’ only makes the idea less endearing. The last thing I want is a new Twitter, even a less toxic one. Maybe one day I’ll become a late adopter but for now, no. I find Instagram and Facebook enough. More than enough actually. But please, tell me if you think I’m missing out on something wonderful.
So down to business and Carolyn’s comment,
I find writing the cover letter to different publishers the most difficult job of all! Some hints and tips about this would be useful to me.